Times Sport

Runs flow

By Tim Wellock

3:50pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

WHEN Durham’s injury jinx spread to Nottinghamshire this afternoon the visitors looked anything but worthy successors as champions while Gordon Muchall and Dale Benkenstein were taking them apart.

Coming together at 35 for two in the second innings, both openers having fallen lbw to Andre Adams, the third wicket pair scorched to a half-century stand in seven overs.

They were helped by Darren Pattinson returning to bowl after limping off before lunch, when he appeared to injure an ankle when delivering his first ball.

Muchall pulled and cut three fours in Pattinson’s first four balls and he conceded 26 runs in two overs before retiring again.

Pattinson had been brought into the game at the halfway stage as a replacement for Ryan Sidebottom, who had to link up with the England Twenty20 squad.

Paul Franks also came in for punishment as Benkenstein pulled him over mid-wicket for six then Muchall cut him for his eighth four to reach 50 off 52 balls.

Nottinghamshire turned to spin for the first time in the match, bringing on Samit Patel for Pattinson, while Franks resorted to bowling well wide of off stump.

The batsmen refused to be tempted by such rubbish, but they still brought up the 100 stand off 101 balls when Muchall lifted Patel over mid-on for four.

Benkenstein reached 50 off 71 balls just before tea, when Durham were 170 for two, leading by 199.

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